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breaking news

Fifth-year linebacker Bobby Carpenter endeared himself to Miami coaches and fans when, less than two weeks after arriving in town, he stuffed Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson on the goal line to preserve the Dolphins’ Week 2 win over the Vikings.

But Carpenter quickly found himself in the doghouse thanks to two special teams errors against the Patriots, which resulted in a blocked punt and a kickoff return for a touchdown. When he made a third special teams error of the season in Sunday’s win over Green Bay, allowing his man to tip Brandon Fields’ punt, the Dolphins decided they had seen enough.

Carpenter, who started at inside linebacker on opening day after being signed six days earlier to replace Channing Crowder, was waived on Monday night, the team announced.

Carpenter, who was drafted in the 2006 first round by current Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland when he worked with the Cowboys, made nine tackles in five games with Miami this season. He returned to a reserve/special teams role on Sunday when Crowder returned to the starting lineup.

The Dolphins had signed Carpenter after he was waived by the Rams at the end of training camp. The Rams had traded for Carpenter this offseason after four unproductive seasons in Dallas.

Carpenter, who makes the veteran minimum of $630,000 and was not signed past this year, is the second special teams casualty of the season for the Dolphins. Linebacker Erik Walden was waived after the Week 3 loss to the Jets for similarly allowing a blocked punt.

The Dolphins now have an open spot on the 53-man roster, though they likely won’t be using it on former Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, who will be waived soon by San Diego. The Dolphins will likely need to use the roster spot for another special teams player, and Merriman does not fit that role. And the Dolphins need to sign a player this week, and Merriman is still property of the Chargers.